MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILMAY 10, 2005Mayor Jim Jellema called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. with the following council members present: Jim Jellema, Dana Dahlquist, Linus Svoboda, and Ross Metzger. Council absent: Keith Elbers. Employees present: Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk; and Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer. Guests: Kym Christiansen-Southwest Regional Development Commission; Jeff Bass-Hills Fire Department; Tom Houselog and Mark Hovland-Rock County Land Records Office; Mike Kerkhove; Wilmer Elbers; and Lexi Moore-Hills Crescent. Kym Christiansen gave an outline of the services that Southwest Regional Development offers to cities. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to approve the April 12th minutes. Motion carried. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Metzger to approve payment of the April expenditures; General $57,979.71; Park $5,477.71; Fire $11,066.85; Street $3,388.92; Legion $4,948.04; Sewer $1,762.79; Garbage $3,782.80; Recycling $976.10; Water $5,585.74; Baseball $49.31; Softball $35.00. Motion Carried.General Checking 59,987.88General Fund CD#18197, 2.5%, 12/4/04 243,300.81General Fund CD#17792 (prev. #15742) 2.5%, 5/29/03 – cashed in 6/3/03General Fund CD#18674 (prev. #17760) 2.75%, 9/15/05 71,299.52Fire Truck Replacement Fund CD#18647, 2.0%, 1/13/06 26,578.89Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 939.08Hills EDA Checking – Acct. #1248 6,781.05Southern Hills Condo Acct. #1263 487.92Southern Hills CD#17759 (prev. #17572) 2.5%, 3/15/05 5,324.88EDA CD#17850 (prev. #17384) 2.5%, 5/7/05 29,026.20EDA CD#18597, 1.0%, 1/17/05 (renew & int. added each month) 20,419.87EDA CD#18505, 1.0%, 1/22/05 (renew & int. added each month) 10,748.47The Council recognized Hansel Plumbing for their donation of labor and materials for work done at the Fire Hall. A resident will be contacted to inform them of the City’s burning ordinance, in that open pit burning is not allowed. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to use funds from the Fire Truck Replacement CD, along with additional funding from the City and Martin Township, to pay Midwest Fire $31,212 for the new fire truck chassis; the remaining amount will be due at a later date. Motion carried.Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Metzger to renew the EDA CD’s for 12 months, rather than 15 months as previously discussed, at the same rate of interest 3.2%. Motion carried.The City’s regular meeting was recessed at 6:35 P.M. in order to open the Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting. Tom Houselog, Rock County Land Record Director and Mark Hovland, Assistant County Assessor presented the Council with residential sales information from 2004 to current. Valuations for Hills increased 4.5 percent from last year, and market values increased three to four percent in accordance with the sale of comparable homes. Mark Hovland confirmed to Ross Metzger that certain property owned by him and Kelly Leuthold is noted as commercial property. No guests appeared at this meeting with inquiries. The Board of Appeals meeting was adjourned at 7:00 P.M., and the Council proceeded with their regular meeting. The Council discussed their concern for the possibility of future hog confinements and the distribution of manure too close to city limits, similar to the problem near the City of Steen. Mayor Jellema volunteered to obtain further information to be discussed at the next meeting. Mike Kerkhove and Wilmer Elbers attended the meeting to discuss the City’s decision to blacktop Sixth Street and assess such costs to the abutting properties. The City accepted a bid from Asco Asphalt Surfacing Company in the amount of $6,075.60, plus the cost of gravel. The cost to each lot will be approximately $1,625. Elbers suggested that the costs be assessed over a ten-year period; Kerkhove was in agreement, but stated that he may choose to pay off the assessment sooner. The Council will confirm with the bank on a suggested interest rate for this assessment. Jellema informed the Council of Wayne Ward’s upcoming change in family health insurance, wherein his spouse is eligible for Medicare this fall, and can no longer be named on the City’s family health insurance plan. A single supplemental insurance would cost $259 per month. Ward’s inquiry to the Council is to consider paying this single supplemental insurance in place of the family health insurance. The Council denied the request, in that they do not feel the City should be responsible for paying supplemental insurance; and also for a member who is not an employee of the city. A notice will be placed in the newspaper requesting residents to control a weed known as creeping Charlie.The Council approved Ward’s request to attend a three-day wastewater seminar in Mankato, only if mandatory. City maintenance will be instructed to replace the stop sign at S. Central Ave. and 4th Street and any other street signs as needed. Also to gravel and blade only the alleys that are well used. The Council approved building permit requests from Alan and Bonnie Leenderts for a new home and from Ross Metzger for a cement pad for an LP tank. The Council denied a building permit request from Ron Arp for a garage, in that the setbacks are not in accordance with the City’s building code. The Council approved of a request from Gregg and Cindy Ebert to allow them household storage space for approximately three months at $1.00 per day. An inquiry to rent a garbage dumpster for long-term, rather than use the City’s garbage service was denied by the Council, in that all residents must pay for city garbage, recycling, and landfill fees with no exceptions. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to contact the Postal Service a second time to request that the mailboxes along State Highway 270 between Main Ave. and S. Central Ave. be removed due to the possible hazard it may create with the City’s busiest intersection and crosswalk. Also, to have the City’s attorney draft an ordinance stating that no additional mailboxes may be installed along State Highway 270 and County Road Six within the City limits. Motion carried. The Council discussed whether a street sign is necessary at the end of West North 2nd Street, leading to Ron and Jan Solberg’s rental homes. The drive leading to those homes is a private drive, and not a city street, therefore no street name or sign will be designated or installed. The Solbergs will be contacted with regard to the Council’s concern for future snow removal within that private drive. No further discussion, meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(5-26)
